A fairly recent book addresses the 10 worst American presidents, with lengthy essays on why each president was ineffectual, corrupt or simply the worst man for the job at the time. The book, “Star-Spangled Men,” by Nathan Miller, gives an insider’s look with perspective and scholarship, as to why his choices for 10 worst were just that – America’s worst. Who made Miller’s list? From the least offensive to the worst were: Jimmy Carter, William Howard Taft, Benjamin Harrison, Calvin Coolidge, Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding and Richard Nixon. Carter was a victim of his own independence from the Washington power loop. Taft was a victim of comparison to his predecessor and best friend, the dynamic Teddy Roosevelt. Harrison lacked human warmth and a common touch. Coolidge was allergic to work. Grant was a victim of his corrupt appointees. Johnson undermined the efforts of his predecessor, Lincoln, to heal the nation. Pierce’s worst enemy was the bottle. Buchanan was routinely described as “weak,” “feeble” and “indecisive.” Harding’s administration was so corrupt, the Justice Department was dubbed, the “Department of Easy Virtue.” Nixon was named America’s worst president, for his fundamental dislike of the American people and utter disregard for the U.S. Constitution. The point of all this is, of course, that despite such poor examples of what America had to offer in the way of national leadership, the United States still thrives and shines among the world community as an example of how a people can govern itself and survive. Some nations have had countless revolutions and civil wars. Many have had fundamental revisions of their style of government. America has endured, mostly because of the efforts of our Founding Fathers in developing a working government which gives the people the ultimate power. When the United States started, few expected it to survive. The Civil War briefly tore it apart, but the system endured. The assassination of John Kennedy was expected by many to be the spark which would precipitate a civil war. Didn’t happen. America has been blessed with presidents who placed among the millennium’s greatest minds. The ideals which made America continue to make America work.

L’Observateur